A decision on the legality of ski hosting in France will now be made in May
2014, leaving the social service forbidden for this season

Ski hosting will not return to the French Alps this season after a court ruling deferred a hearing on its legality to May next year.

A decision was expected this week after the British tour operator at the heart of the argument, Le Ski, and the Ecole du Ski Français (ESF), which is backing the French prosecution, met in the Court of Appeal in Chambéry, France. But the court agreed to postpone the hearing until May next year because of the complexities of the legal issues involved, at the request of both parties.

Ski hosting, or social skiing, when a employee from a tour operator takes guests out on the pistes for free to show them around, point out good lunch spots and give them inside tips on how to avoid queues, was ruled illegal by an Albertville court in February. The French court said the practice breaks French law, which states that leaders of organised groups must be suitably qualified.

The dispute began when a Le Ski employee was stopped on the slopes of Méribel, France, told his actions were illegal and asked to report to the Courchevel gendarmerie.

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A statement from Le Ski today said: “Both parties concur in considering that the European legal issues raised by the case are complex and require careful examination.

“This highlights the importance of the decision that the court will take and of the need to ensure the best possible preparation of such decision by all parties concerned.”

Nick Morgan, managing director of Le Ski, speaking to Telegraph Ski and Snowboard ahead of the appeal, said he was confident the decision would be overturned, and was prepared to take the legal battle to the European Court of Human Rights.

The ski hosting ban has led to fears that British skiers will eschew France in favour of countries where ski hosting is allowed. Le Ski is supported by a host of British tour operators, including Crystal, Inghams and Thomson.